Self-stropping razor



Oct. 1, 1929. J. HOLTZMAN 1,729,722

I SELF STROPPING RAZOR Original Filed Aug. 17. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l J/y .9 a a? 2 l4- 9 73 /o" 2 4 J3 2a ,7 9

26 2 37 3 26 z i/z ,.1 2 J. HOLTZMAN 1,729,722

' saw STROPPING RAZOR I Original Filed Aug. 17.1 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN HOLTZMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN ROMAN, 0F EEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-STROPPING RAZOR Application filed August 17, 1921, Serial No.492,941. Renewed February 16, 1929.

This invention relates to safety razors, and particularly to the wellknown self stropping type wherein, by slight manipulation, the blade andits guard may be separated from each other, and after passing a stropthrouglh guiding rollers provided therefor, in t e razor-frame the blademay be sharpened by securing one end of said strop to a rigld body,

drawing the strop taut with one hand, and reciprocating the razor withthe other hand toward and away from said rigid body. Af-

ter such sharpening or stropping of the blade the strop is slipped outof the razor and the blade is looked back to the guard in operatlveshaving relation.

The principal object of my inventlon is to provide an improved razor ofthe above character.

Another object is to provide a razor of the above type, the blade ofwhich, while being sharpened by its strop, will simultaneously movelaterally in opposite directions and be thereby more efficientlysharpened.

A further object is to provide the razor wlth improved means for lockingits blade to and unlocking it from its guard.

A further object is to provide the razor with means for regulating theposition of the edge of its blade relatively to the guard.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. a

In the accompanying drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the razor.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the razor shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the razor shown in Fig. 1.

Fig 4 is a bottom plan view of the razor shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side and rear elevation of amodification of the razor.

The guard for the blade 2 of the razor 3 forms part of the razor-head orframe 4, which comprises a base-plate 5 having at its ends a pair ofupright walls 6 that provide bearings 7 for a shaft 8 that carries aholder 9 for the blade 2. Said blade is held in its holder 9 in anyusual manner, and the holder is mounted on the shaft 8 by means of apair of sleeves 10, forming part thereof, embracing the shaft, wherebythe blade-holder 9 and the blade 2 may be slid along said shaft and alsoswung together with the shaft about its axis. A pair of pins 11 fixed tothe sleeve 10 extend into a slot 12 formed in the shaft 8 and therebypermit the shaft to swing the blade holder 9 therewith about its axisand also permit the blade holder to slide along said shaft. Under theshaft 8 is located a roll 13, which comprises a spindle 14 rotatably journaled in bearings 15 in the frame 6, a pair of sleeves 16 secured tosaid spindle, and a fluted roller or gear 17 rotatably mounted upon saidspindle between the sleeves 16. A gear 18 located between the sleeves10, of blade holder 9, is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 8 and is inmesh with the gear 17, and an internal thread or tap 19 formed in thebore of the gear 18 threads over a thread 21 which is formed on theshaft 8, whereby upon rotation of the gear 17 the gear 18 is similarlyrotated and is simultaneously caused to move laterally along the shaft 8by the coaction of its tap 19 with the thread 21 of the shaft 8, andthis lateral movement is in turn transmitted to the blade-holder 9, thesleeves 10 of which straddle the gear 18. The shaft 8 and spindle 14carry a pair of gears 22 which mesh with each other, whereby partialrotation of the spindle 14 transmits a similar rotation to the shaft 8and causes the latter to reverse the blade 2 from the position shown in3 to an opposite position, as will be hereinafter further explained. Tothe underside of the base-plate 5 is secured a strap 23, Fig. 4, bymeans of screws 24, which is configurated so as to form a guide-way 25between its middle portion 26 and the plate 5, and a handle 27 for therazor is secured to the frame or razorhead 4 by means of a shank 28thereof pass ing through an opening 29 in the strap-portion 26 and itsterminal 30 threading into the base-plate 5. In order to secure theblade 2 to its guard 1, which is stationary or rigid with the frame 4, alocking device 31 is provided, which comprises a plate 32 located underthe guard 1, a pair of jaws or hooks 33 projecting from the extremecorners of said plate and adapted to grip said blade to the guard, andan arm 34 projecting from the middle portion of said plate and passingslidably through the guide-way 25. Moving or sliding the locking device31 toward the left releases the blade 2 from the guard 1, and returningthe device 31 toward the right causes its j aws 33 to lock the blade toits guard, the opening 31 in the arm 34 being elongated to permitsliding of said arm without interference with the handle-shank 28. Thelocking device 31 is maintained in the operative locking position shown,by means ofthe tight sliding fit of its arm 34 within the guideway 25,which tight fit can be regulated by the extent of tightening of thescrews 24 and the handle 27. The arm 34 is provided at its extremitywith a rack 35 with which meshes a gear-sector 36 pivotally mounted upona pair of ears 37 projecting from the strap 23, and the sector isprovided with a lever-arm 38. Swinging of the lever 38 toward the right,therefore, unlocks or releases the blade 2 from the guard 1, while thereturn swing- 'ing of said lever toward the left locks the blade to itsguard. Slightly below the roll 13 and at each side thereof is provided apair of rolls 39, 40 which rolls are rotatably mounted in the frame 4and are adapted to receive a strop 41 in the manner shown in Fig. 3,wherein the strop passes over the roll 40, under the roll 13 and overthe roll 39. Portions 42 of the base-plate 5 are preferably stampedupwardly, as shown, to act as guides for the strop 41, to facilitate itspassage through the strep-guiding rolls 39, 40, 13.

VVhen it is desired to shave with this razor, the blade 2 is placedagainst the guard 1 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the lever 38 isswung toward the left to cause the jaws 33 to move toward the blade andguard and lock the two firmly together, whereupon the razor is renderedready for the shaving operation. When it is desired to sharpen thecutting edge of the blade 2, the lever 38 is swung toward the right andthe jaws 33 are thereby caused to unlock and release the blade 2 fromthe guard l. The strop 41 is then passed through the guiding rolls inthe razor-head by inserting its leading end over the roll 40, under theroll 13, over the roll 39 and under the blade 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Oneend. of the strop is then secured to some rigid body and its oppositeend is held by one hand of the operator, who therewith draws the stroptaut, while with his other hand he grasps the razor-handle 27 andtherewith reciprocates the razor forwardly and backwardly, toward andaway from the rigid support to which the strop is secured. The drawingof the strop tautly causes .itto bind in the guiding rolls 39, 13, 40and to exert downward pressure against the rolls 39, 40 and upwardpressure against the roll 13. As the razor is moved toward the right,during its reciprocation, the pressure of the strop 41 against thesleeves 16 of the roll 13 tends to impart Lveavea rotation to itsspindle 14 and the gear 22 carried thereby in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, and this rotation is transmitted to the upper gear 22and to the shaft 8, whereby the latter tends to swing the blade holder 9in a counter-clockwise direction and in this manner causes the blade 2to bear firmly with its edge against the strop, so that as the razor isadvanced toward the right it draws the blade along in sharpening contactwith the strop and sharpens its edge-side 42. As the razor is thusadvanced toward the right, the pressure of the strop4l against the gear17 causes it to rotate, in a clockwise direction, about the spindle 14,and the gear 18 is thereby rotated in a reverse direction and, due tothe engagement of its tap 19 withthe thread 21 of shaft 8, is caused tomove laterally toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereby as thegear 18 moves toward the right it carries along therewith the bladeholder 9 beyond the confines of the frame 4.

and in this manner imparts a lateral motion to the blade 2, while it isin sharpening contact'with the strop, simultaneously with its sharpeningstroke in the longitudinal direction of the strop. At the commencementof the return stroke of the razor toward the left, the strop 41 impartsrotation to the sleeves 16, spindle 14, and lower gear 22 in acounter-clockwise direction, which gear in turn imparts a partialrotation to the upper gear 22 and shaft 8 in an opposite direction, andthe shaft 8 swings the blade-holder 9 and blade 2 to a position oppositefrom that saown in F ig. 3 and thereby reverses the blade 2 and disposesit with its edge-side 43 in sharpening contact with the strop. Themovementof the razor toward the left draws the blade 2 along with itsedge-side 43 in sharpening contact with the strop, and simultaneouslythe blade is caused tomove laterally toward the left, as viewed in Fig.2, whereby this edge-side is sharpened similarly to the oppositeedge-side 42. At the CO1 mencement of the next stroke of the razor,toward the right, the blade-holder 9 is reversed back to the positionshown in Fig. 3 and the edge-side 42 is again sharpened by the combinedmovement of the bladein the longitudinal direction of the strop andlaterally, and in this manner the forward and backward movements of therazor are con tinued, until theshaving edge 2 of the blade 2 isthoroughly sharpened. This combined movement of the blade, laterally aswell as longitudinally with relation to the strop, while it is sharpenedthereby,.produces umform and highly efiicient sharpening of its edge,the sharpening of the edge is rendered more rapid, the strop receives amore uniform wear, which in turn'also conduces toward a more uniform andefiicient sharpening of the blade, and many other advantages arederived. After the blade has been sharpened, the strop 41 is withdrawnfrom the razor-head by pulling it out of the guiding rolls, and theblade 2 may be then locked to the guard 1, into operative shavingrelation therewith, by manipulation of the locking lever 38 in the abovedescribed manner. When returning the blade to the guard, the former isconveniently and accurately aligned with the latter, laterally, by meansof a pair of upright guiding-tongues 44 projecting from the guard 1 nearto the locking jaws 33.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, the fluted roll orgear 17, is made to extend from wall to wall 6, and the shaft 8 receivesits partial rotation, for reversing the bladeholder 9 and applying thepressure of the blade against the strop, by means of a gear 45, carriedupon the roll 40, meshing with an idler-gear 46, mounted upon a stud 47fixed to the wall 6, which idler in turn meshes with a gear 48 carriedupon the shaft 8.

Provision is made in this razor for moving the blade-holder 9 with theblade 2- rectilinearly in the direction of the plane of the blade, so asto regulate the distance between the shaving edge of the blade and theleading curved portion 49 of the stationary guard l, for the purpose ofproducing a heavier and deeper or a lighter shaving action of the blade.And in order to carry out this function, the bearings 7 for the journals51 of shaft 8 are made slotted, as shown in Fig. 1 and a pair of springs52, secured at 58 to the walls 6, are made to bear continuously againstthe journals 51 and to thereby transmit this action through the shaft 8and blade holder 9 to the blade 2, whereby the latter is normally forcedreetilinearly and in the direction of its plane toward the extremecurved portion 49 of the guard 1 with its edge 2 extended or disposed ata maximum distance from the curved guard-portion 49. Upon actuating thelocking lever 38 toward the left, the jaws 33 in locking the blade tothe guard simultaneously press against the extreme corners of the edge 2of the blade and thereby force the blade to move rectilinearly in itsplane with its edge 2 toward the leading curved portion 49 of the guardand contrary to the pressure of the springs 52. And it will be evidentthat slight swinging of the lever 38 toward the right and toward theleft will regulate the position of the blade to adjust its shaving edgef2 relatively to its guard, for the above mentioned purpose.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A safety razor having thecombination of a blade holder, a frame therefor, a guard for the blade,springs forcing said blade holder to move the blade toward the guard,and means on said frame to move said blade contrary to the pressure ofsaid springs where by manipulation of said means adjusts the edge of theblade relatively to said guard.

2. A safety razor having the combination of a blade holder, a frametherefor, a guard for the blade, means on said frame to lock said bladeto said guard, springs forcing said blade holder to move the bladetoward the guard, and said locking means pressing said blade contrary tothe pressure of said springs whereby manipulation of said locking means1 L ad usts the edge of the blade relatively to the guard.

3. A safety razor having the combination of a blade holder, a frametherefor, a guard for the blade, a spring forcing said blade holder tomove the blade toward the guard, means on said frame pressing said bladeto move it contrary to the pressure of said spring whereby manipulationof said pressing means adjusts the position of the edge of the bladerelatively to the uard, and said pressing means constantly pressingagainst said blade contrary to the pressure of said spring to rigidlysupport the edge of the blade in locked state.

4. A safety razor having the combination of a blade holder, a frametherefor, a guard for the blade, a spring to press said blade towardsaid guard, means on said frame to press said blade away from saidguard, and means to regulate said pressures for adj usting the edge ofthe blade relatively to said guard and lock the edge in rigidlysupported state.

5. A safety razor having the combination with a frame, a blade guard onsaid frame, and strop guiding means on said frame above said guard, of arotatable gear, said means including a toothed roll which meshes withsaid gear, said roll being driven by said strop, means to propel saidgear laterally of the strop while it rotates, a blade holder, and saidgear engaging said holder to impart lateral motion thereto while theblade is being stropped.

6. A safety razor having the combination with a frame, a blade guard onsaid frame, and strop guiding means above said guard, of a rotatablegear, said means including a toothed roll in mesh wit-h said gear, saidroll being driven by the strop, means to propel the gear while itrotates, a blade holder, and said gear imparting lateral motion to saidholder while the blade is being sharpened.

7. A safety razor having the combination with a frame, a blade guard onsaid frame, and strop guiding means above said guard, of a threadedshaft on said frame, a gear rotatable on said shaft, said meansincluding a toothed roll in mesh with said gear, said roll driven bysaid strep, said shaft imparting propulsion to' said gear While itrotates, a blade holder, and said gear imparting lateral motion to saidholder while the blade is being stropped. 8. A safety razor having thecombination with a frame, a blade guard on said frame, and strop guidingmeans above said guard, of a threaded shaft on said frame, a bladeholder mountedon said shaft, means actuated by the strep to rock saidshaft to oscillate said holder, a gear rotatable on said shaft andmeshing with its thread, a toothed roll meshing with said gear, saidroll driven by the strop, said shaft imparting propulsion to said gearWhile -it rotates, and said gear imparting lateral motion to said bladeholder while the blade is being stropped.

9. A safety razor having the combination with a frame, a blade guard onsaid frame,

. and strep guiding means above said guard,

of a threaded shaft on said frame, a blade holder mounted on said shaft,a roller rotated by said shaft, means actuated by said roller to rocksaid shaft to oscillate said blade holder, a gear rotatable on saidshaft and en gaging its thread, a toothed roll mounted on said rollerand meshing with said gear, said roll being driven by the strop, saidshaft imparting propulsion to said gear while it rotates, and said gearimparting lateral motion to said blade holder while the blade is beingstropped.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, this 12 day of August, A. D. 1921.

JOHN HOLTZMAN.

